Diversity is a term that is difficult to define in an American context and nearly impossible in regards to American volunteers living in Malawi. The meanings we are all accustomed to simply don’t apply here. As Peace Corps volunteers we are all diverse in the villages we serve. American diversity in Malawi is a term used to help define the ambiguous experiences of the individual in his or her community. This area of the site is a way to bring to light some, although certainly not all, of the varied volunteer experiences. - The Diversity Committe

Case Study 1

I am a woman nearing the one-year mark of my service and who decided to start wearing trousers. This is something only recently permissible by law since under Banda’s rule it wasn’t. Still, old traditions die hard and it is general not done in rural villages. At the beginning, everyone stared and seemed to give me the evil eye. All talking would stop and then started up again in an irritated hush. After awhile, people got used to it but I’ve definitely gotten criticism.

One guy yelled at me and said, “Women in Malawi don’t wear trousers!” Another man started in on a discussion regarding religion and women wearing trousers. He told me God says women should not wear trousers because of a myriad of reasons one being that women who wear trousers are seen as whores. I promptly informed him that wasn’t true, gave him a couple of my own reasons and told him to leave.

I truly felt uncomfortable in those two situations and I don’t see myself as someone who is highly sensitive to gender-related issues. Nevertheless, I have had to understand that there are different attitudes related to gender equality in Malawi, so I just have to try to find a compromise and stick to what I believe.

Case Study 2

Gender issues in Malawi can be a bit challenging sometimes. I can’t keep count of how many times I’ve been told that I “have the job of a man.” I may have the job of a man, but I am still treated like a woman with a man’s job. Getting people, men in particular, to take me seriously has been a bit of a challenge. Like all things here, it’s a learning experience for everybody. I learn how to get a man’s job done while still being a woman, and maybe my community learns a little about gender equality.

Case Study 3

Being a single female, I get several questions a week on why I am not married and not having any children. It’s hard to explain that not every American female gets married straight out of secondary school. It is hard to explain why you are not married three times a day.

Case Study 4

I have had little trouble as a woman in Malawi. Still, everyone in my village asks me the same two questions. First, “Are you married?” I ask if it matters and why. I have never heard a good reason. Second, they ask, “Do you have children?” I am usually honest. “No, I don’t want any.” A former volunteer at my site told me that because she did not want any children, the villagers assumed she was barren. If they think the same of me, that’s fine.
At school, the teachers treat me as an equal. Most students treat me as they would a male teacher. So far, I have been unable to get them to obey without raising my voice.
My neighbor often teaches me about Malawian culture. Once he described his cousin, whom he started to call a man. Then he changed his mind and called him a boy. I asked him what the difference was. He said boys are not married. I asked if that made me a girl, since I am not married and don’t want to be. “No,” he said, “you are an exception.” I asked why, but he never told me. Maybe it’s because I am educated, or because I am a foreigner. Some days later, he and I were walking back from church (we are both Catholics) when he asked me why don’t I become a nun? I did not want to say that I was not that devout, so I replied that it was for the same reason I do not want to marry. I do not want to be tied to a convent any more than I want to be tied to a man. That answer worked.
Only twice have I been harassed. The first time, I had just moved to my site. A stranger followed me uninvited into my fenced-in backyard. I was polite, asked what he wanted, and told him to go away. He said he wanted to meet the new white woman. He went away when I asked and I have not seen him since. I told my neighbors and I think they knew him and told him to stay away from me.
The second time was less than a month ago. I was in a crowded part of my village market. Out of nowhere, some male deliberately grabbed my breast. He let go and vanished back into the crowd before I had time to react. I was angrier that I was unable to retaliate than that he had grabbed me.